The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-08-18

Others to their places, when noise coming
from the room directly overhead struck me
with dismay. Some one whose footsteps were
slow, regular and unmistakable, was pacing
up aud down the floor, and moment later,
heard the sound Of low and smothered
groan. made no attempt to fly, but sinking
down In the closet, gazed with painful intent
ness into the gloomy hall, which now dared
not enter In order to regain my room.
The warning which Mrs. Lynton had given
me flashed into my mind, and tried to scream,
to stir, to do anything which might arouse
the occupants Of the house to q sense OF some
menacing danger, but fear had deprived me
Of al power save that Of staring helplessly
into the darkness.
A. looked, became conscious that some
one was descending the stairway. An ap-
preaching step defined itself more and more
distinctly. though stealthly. aud feeble ray
Of light tinged the utter blackness In the hall.
Ere had fully decided upon the course this
horrifying visitant would take toward Its fell
purposes my heart gave a sudden bound Of
relief
1t was my cousin Dorothy herself, who, can
die in hand, came among the shadows. 1Wust
have made some faint sound for she paused
abruptly, half turned, as II for flight listened
an instant irresolutely, then with the swift un-
certain motion Of an affrighted bird, fastened
toward her own chamber ! caught one
glimpse of her face. SO blanched, so troubled,
so changed from its debonair rosiness, that
the words might have uttered died upon my
lips.
NJ In fhu ho NJ
the presence of the occupant Of that upper
chamberl A sharp pang OF agonlzed doubt
tortured me at this conviction. Who could 1t
be, thus hidden under a hospitable and
hitherto most honorable roof Assuredly it
was not the master of the house, for heard
his half-awakened utterance as stole quietly
back to my room. Crawling into bed await
ed, shivering, repetition of these mysterious
sounds, but the remoteness of my chamber
doubtless rendered them inaudiable.
heard them many times afterwards; for .
singular fascination drew me nightly, In spite
Of myself, to my former apartment. said
nothing concerning them to any one as felt
myself strangely bound to refrain from reveal
ing my discovery to Mr.. Lynton himself.
But could not prevent a certain sense Of
loathing a. narrowly watched, during the
days that followed, my cousin Dorothy. think
she dimly OWNED something OF my feeling,
and suffered under it. Certainly she grew
thin, and it was clear that she was mentally
much disturbed. Her changeful color, the nerv-
Gus starts she gave at the unexpected slsmming
Of the door, or the crunch of football upon the
gravel, her covert scrutiny of her husband, all
proved to me that, for the first time in her
eli ,ofh ~
that my cousin Dorothy had secret. Once
made an effort to unveil the the mytsery
for myself. Creeping quietly up the long
stairs, hoped to enter that forbidden room.
But the door in the hall leading to it was
locked. and the undisturbed silence quite
shook my belief that it had been tenanted.
Ashamed OF suspicious which already seemed
unworthy of me- l went away, feeling half
guilty and resolved to dismiss the matter, as
far As possible from my thoughts.
had been q month at Ernscliff, when,
coming In from q ramble, found talking to
Mr.. Lynton, q man whose speech contained an
element entirely unfamiliar to my ear. He
turned abruptly at my entrance, revealing .
face clear-cut and handsome, Notwithstanding
its extreme pallor, which his hair and beard,
both black ana silky, served to intensity.
''Miss Lynton, Mr.. Thanescourt," said my
Cousin Roderick, introducing him.
The stranger fixed a grave look upon me,
from eyes of . deep, fathomless blue, bowed
courteously, and resumed his interrupted con-
versation.
1.-THE applicant for the vacancy at the acad-
emy." explained my Cousin Dorothy, in q
| swift aside
oil oil nd
| distinguished looking man." whispered.
She flashed quick, apprehensiye glance at
me, then serenely lifted her neglected knit
ting.
do not know how Mr. Thanescourt induced
Mr.. LINTON, not only to use his influence in
securing the position he desired, but to re-
ceive him as a boarder. 1t may have been
proof of the magnetic power which the man
undoubtedly possessed, and, subsequently,
/ exercised impartialiy upon the entire house
hold. I alone held myself aloof from him.
much imagined, to the relief of my Cousin
Dorothy. I rarely spoke to him, while he as
seldom addressed his conversation to me.
Always a close reader OF the military move
| ments daily chronicled, now began to exper
fence 4 strange, even malicious pleasure in
discussing news from the seat OF war. / learn
eddy explained strategic movements, adored
our boys in blue, glorlfed the skill of our gen.
erals, abused the rebels roundlv. and delight
ed the patriotic soul Of my cousin Roderick.
Felix Thanescourt listened attentively,
asked few questions, and never made direct
comment upon my talk. / never saw him at
all moved by my vivid utterances; perh APPS
this 1t was that piqued me into making them
80 frequently.
The academy was not to open its doors for
some weeks, and 1 was surprised to find that
M. Thanescourt neither left the roof of Mr..
Lynton. nor sought the acquaintance of the
friends who called Overlooking with redun-
dant life, came to despise this man as being
too inert to follow even the windings Of the
stream, to thread the byways of Ernscliff, or
to cross the gray old bridge above the roaring
waterfall Yet, he never fastened his dark
| eyes upon me, that my whole being did not
| thrill with An emotion half-delicious, half
resentful.
| 1t was late in in the summer when the
meaning Of it all broke clearly upon me.
do NOT. try to explain the pertinacity with
which continued to pay nightly visits to my
| old room. But there came an hour when sit
| ting there. heard overhead once more, those
same regular footsteps, that same smothered
groan, which Of late had nearly forgotten.
A mad impulse seized me- and, mounting the
| stairs, hurriedly traversed the hall and
| quickly threw open the door of that unused
room, so well remembered, though now SO
rarely entered. NV cousin Dorothy leaned
over q bed, her face white and rigid and half
| upright before her sat Felix Thanescourt, his
| right arm barred and a thin stream of blood
trickling from 1t, upon the white pillow sup
porting 1t.
'Quickf" cried my cousin, "hand me the
lint therer' She appeared entirely to have
forgotten my presence, as, eagerly but deity,
she bandaged the gaping wound.
do not be alarmed, Miss Lynton," said
Felix, calmly, '1t is merely an old wound re-
| opened" Then his strength failed him and
| he sank back white and CHASTITY against his